University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville Swimming to Feature Diving
09.14.2018 | Women's Swimming & Diving
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – With great excitement, UNC Asheville Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone announced the swimming program will now feature diving team members on Friday, Sept. 14.
Due to a generous partnership with the Asheville Jewish Community Center (JCC), the one meter springboard diving event will be added to the event list during competitions.
"The Asheville JCC is excited about this partnership with UNC Asheville," said the Aquatics & Wellness Director Wendy Lawrence. "We look forward to expanding opportunities for divers in our community."
Cone is thankful the community has embraced the opportunity to offer swimming & diving at UNC Asheville.
"We are thrilled to be in a community where partnerships allow for the betterment of our university, the athletic community and our students," said Cone.
With the addition of diving events, the UNC Asheville swimming & diving program has a greater opportunity to be competitive within the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) and its non-conference schedules.
Adding diving has been in discussion for several months and UNC Asheville swimming & diving head coach Elizabeth Lykins is excited it has come to fruition.
"Expanding to add diving events is great news for the program. Its addition is threefold: it brings a more competitive environment to the program, adds more opportunities for female students on campus to be involved in athletics and the team will have a more level playing field in dual meets and at conference championships," exclaimed Lykins.
Lykins was hired in 2012 to start the swimming program at UNC Asheville and has brought the Bulldogs conference recognition with their success in the pool and the classroom.
The Bulldogs commence the 2018-19 season at the CSCAA National Collegiate Open Water Championships on Sept. 22. Asheville will then host its annual intrasquad meet in conjunction with the first-ever alumni meet at the Justice Pool on Sept. 29.
The dual meet season begins on Oct. 13 at home versus CCSA rival Campbell.
